Unless you live under a rock, you have heard of the Netflix series, TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY. This adaptation of Jay Asher’s 2007 novel with the same title tells the story of Hannah, a teenage girl who commits suicide leaving behind a series of audio recordings explaining the reasons why she decided to end her life. The series has been the…..

As September comes to a close, so does this year’s Suicide Prevention Awareness month. While the campaign slows, the fight to raise awareness of suicide warning signs and prevention efforts continues. During this month it is estimated that well over 3,000 Americans took their lives through completed suicide.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) maintains statistics relative to suicide rates and demographics. These figures are stated as ‘numbers per 100,000 people’……

Perhaps I’m dating myself, but do you remember ‘Fun Bobby’ from Friends? He was Monica’s sometimes boyfriend during the first couple seasons of the show. Bobby got his nickname because he was usually the life of the party. In one episode, Monica is concerned about Bobby’s drinking so she convinces him to give up alcohol. Bobby does and the result is a sullen, boring demeanor earning…..

The first time a therapist asked me “Have you ever thought about suicide?” I responded, “Hasn’t everyone?” Even today, 30 years later, I still find it hard to believe that pondering suicide is not a standard thought, but it’s not. What it is, in fact, is a symptom.

Suicidal ideation is, by definition, the act of thinking about suicide, contemplating suicide, considering suicide. It is the precursor to planning and then ultimately attempting suicide. It is critical to seek help…..